Sussex Tech custodian accused of having sex with student, harassing another

Friday

Jan 11, 2013 at 12:06 PMJan 12, 2013 at 11:47 AM

A 29-year-old custodian at Sussex Technical High School is accused of having a sexual relationship with one 16-year-old student and sexually harassing another 16-year-old.

By Scott Goss

A 29-year-old custodian at Sussex Technical High School is accused of having a sexual relationship with one 16-year-old student and sexually harassing another 16-year-old.

Timothy O. Morris began a relationship with the first victim, in March 2010 while she was a student at the school, according to Delaware State Police spokesman Master Cpl. Gary Fournier.

Morris and the teen had sex both at the school and off campus numerous times until the relationship came to an end in August 2011, police said.

A relative of the victim notified police that the girl was involved in a sexual relationship with an adult male employee of the school in March 2012, Fournier said.

However, the victim, who is now 19, did not wish to proceed any further with the investigation, he said.

"We investigated the allegations to the best of our ability, but at the time, we didn't have enough information to proceed with an arrest following our initial contact with the victim," Fournier said, adding that school administrators were made aware of the allegations against Morris.

Administrators at the school contacted police Jan. 9 to report that a 16-year-old female student currently attending Sussex Tech was being sexually harassed.

Detectives determined Morris had sought out unsolicited hugs from the victim, and in one instance attempted to obtain a kiss, causing the teen to feel uncomfortable and scared.

Morris later used a social media network to obtain the teen's cell phone number and began sending her text messages.

State police then re-contacted the initial victim, who provided them with information about her roughly 18-month sexual relationship with Morris.

Morris is charged with 25 counts of fourth-degree rape by a person of trust, authority or supervision, 25 counts of second-degree unlawful sexual contact, continuous sexual abuse of a child and sexual harassment.

He is being held at the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $208,500 cash bail, Fournier said.

"Tim Morris is suspended pending the completion of the investigation," Sussex Tech spokeswoman Carolyn O'Neal said Friday. "State and federal law protect the privacy rights of district employees. Thus, the district is not in a position to release additional information."